Tuesday, January 24, 2012

I too thought that was a bit of an oxy-moron! But the other day I was looking for some reasonably low calorie things to bake. I found a good recipe for some fruity breakfast muffins that have gone down a treat with the hubs, so thought I would share...

~ Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C and very lightly butter a 12-hole muffin tin. ~ Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. ~ In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, then stir in the melted butter, milk and honey. Add to the flour with the remaining ingredients. ~ Combine quickly without overworking (it's fine if there are some lumps left - you want it gloopy rather than fluid). ~ Spoon the mixture into the muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen and pale golden on top. ~ Leave in the tin for a few minutes before taking out. When cool, they'll keep in an airtight tin for two days. (Can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

I can't believe how time is flying! The blog title says one month, but Max will actually be 6 weeks, this week! And we know what that means - I can drive and exercise again - wahoo!

Max is such a joy...

~ He is so smiley (particularly in the morning)~ He is a great sleeper - he only wakes up at night for a feed and then goes straight back to sleep, so we are very lucky!~ He is growing, growing and growing~ He is a good at feeding (sometimes a little too good as he wants to eat and eat and eat)~ He is making all sorts of cute noises, particularly when we talk to him and have our morning sing time~ He has lots of hair around the back of his head (but not much on top)!~ He has a really strong kick and is pretty good at holding his head already~ He loves bright colours and is mesmerized watching our TV when something like Frozen Planet is on~ He takes a dummy!~ He likes to hold your finger really, really tight~ He has such long fingers (def a piano player like daddy)~ He has such lovely dark blue eyes~ He makes the funniest faces when he sleeps

Max also got a new cousin at the end of December - little gorgeous George! We are excited for the adventures they will have growing up together.

We had a great Christmas! and due to having a new born (and a sister-in-law very overdue), my family came to our house for Christmas. My mum and Mike were amazing with the Christmas dinner and everyone was a great help with Max.

We skyped my sister and her family in Vegas, we ate lots, played lots of games and had lots of fun celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

Maternity leave started and I had two weeks to myself before my due date... I was due on 28th November and I was counting down the days. The 28th rolled around. As did the 29th. The 30th. And then it was advent calendar time as it was now 1st December before I knew it.

I was booked in to see the midwife at my doctors surgery on 1st December so I wandered over for my appointment, hoping that there would be some good news and that I was actually dilated some and that baby would soon be on the way. When I got to the doctors, the receptionist informed me that the midwife wasn't going to be able to make it, as she was called away to a home delivery, and there was no one else that could do the clinic in her place. I was absolutely gutted. I wandered home and cried. I had really gotten myself excited about the prospect of some good news from the midwife, that baby would be here soon.

I called Mike and he said I should try the hospital. I was sure you couldn't go in if you weren't actually in labour so I brushed it off. My mum then called and she said the same - go to the hospital to get checked out. Being overdue I was a high priority surely?! So I called the delivery suite and they said to come in.

I parked up a few streets away (hospital parking is soooo expensive) and left my 'hospital bag' in the car. I wasn't in labour so wouldn't be needing it surely?

I had the usual checks done, my blood pressure etc and to see if waters had gone. They hadn't. They then plugged me into a monitor to listen to the baby's heart rate, nothing unusual there. The midwife at the hospital stayed with me for quite a while. She then went to get a doctor. She then went to get a registrar. Then it all became clear; the needed to get the baby out. His heart rate was really erratic and it also dropped suddenly and went very low (and then stayed very low).

I called Mike, who was at work in London, to get here as soon as possible. They prepped me for theatre and literally a few minutes after Mike arrived at the hospital, they sent me to theatre for an emergency c-section.

It was the weirdest experience ever. But then I got to meet my baby boy! Who was a good sized 9lbs. It is amazing to witness such a miracle - he is so perfect and I now can't even remember (or imagine) life with out him.